MILF briefly detains 2 soldiers for ‘trespassing’

Two Army soldiers were caught and briefly detained by Moro rebels last week for allegedly roaming near the rebels’ camp in Maguindanao province. “The vicinity of the camp . . . is for exclusive presence of MILF people," the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said on its website Sunday. The two soldiers, who were not identified, were turned over to the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Malaysia-led International Monitoring team (IMT), which is monitoring the ceasefire on the ground while the Philippine government and the secessionist rebels talk peace. “They were well-taken (care) of by MILF, (their) rights (were) respected, no harm was committed against them physically and psychologically, and no property and valuable(s) in their possession were taken by (the) MILF," the MILF said. It said the two soldiers were from the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division. The two soldiers were found roaming around the MILF’s Camp Darapanan last February 7, during a peace advocacy program of the MILF Central Committee. They were handed over to the government CCCH and the IMT the next day. Government CCCH chairman Brig. Gen. Rey Ardo received the two Army personnel from his MILF counterpart Said Shiek in Cotabato City, the MILF said. Camp Darapanan is the administrative headquarters of MILF where the Office of the MILF Peace Negotiating and its Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) are situated. — KBK, GMA News